Discourse: Fordies in the news, fall 2023

December 12, 2023

“Rather than a single terrorist attack, this was a complex operation that involved commando teams and rocket attacks against multiple targets. The fact that Israel appears to have lacked advance warning is surprising, given Israel’s excellence in intelligence and domestic security.”

Javed Ali on counter intelligence in Israel following the Hamas attack. USA Today, October 7, 2023.

“In many parts of the world, the air pollution monitoring network is inadequate, so people just don’t know how bad pollution is in their neighborhoods. And even when they have a monitor nearby, households might not be aware of the full range of health damages that they could be experiencing. So people don’t always take adequate measures to protect themselves.”

Catherine Hausman on the air pollution disproportionately affecting low-income people. BBC, October 17, 2023.

“Passage of (clean energy) legislation would really represent a significant climate policy achievement for the governor. It would suggest that Michigan’s energy production and use would be changing very, very dramatically.”

Barry Rabe on legislation supporting Michigan Governor Whitmer’s proposed climate plan. Washington Post, November 3, 2023.

“China is not likely to engage in dramatic military escalation, but it will probably take economic measures to punish South Korea and Japan. This could accelerate economic decoupling.”

John Ciorciari on the U.S.–Japan–South Korea accords. VOA, August 25, 2023.

“[ChatGPT] is not magic. It’s also not an asteroid. … It is us. It is something that is built by humans with data from us, and the way that it evolves also depends on us.” 

Shobita Parthasarathy on human bias inherent in ChatGPT. WDET, June 16, 2023.

“If you don’t have sufficient affordable housing in these communities, it’s going to be impossible to retain and attract some of those younger workers and … taxpayers.”

Debra Horner on Michigan’s housing shortage. Michigan Radio, October 13, 2023.

“The low unemployment is not happening in a stagnant labor market—it is happening in a labor market undergoing an extraordinary amount of upheaval. … Employers had to learn to be adaptable during the pandemic, and that adaptability might be making it easier for them to consider their options before giving big gains to workers.”

Betsey Stevenson on labor union activity in an uncertain economy. Bloomberg Opinion, September 21, 2023.


More in State & Hill

Below, find the full, formatted fall 2023 edition of State & Hill. Click here to return to the fall 2023 S&H homepage.